Trump-Endorsed Candidate Falls in South Carolina GOP Runoff
Conservative voters in South Carolina rejected President Donald Trump's initial pick for governor on Tuesday, handing a decisive runoff victory to Attorney General Alan Wilson over Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. The results from four states holding primary elections signal that Republican primary voters are making their own choices, even as Trump's endorsement remains a powerful force in GOP politics.
What happened in the South Carolina governor's race?
Wilson, who has served as South Carolina's top prosecutor since 2011, routed Evette in Tuesday's runoff. Trump had backed Evette in the final days of the primary campaign before hedging his bets on Friday, saying either contender would be a good pick.
The loss adds to a string of setbacks for Trump's gubernatorial endorsements. Earlier this month, Trump-endorsed candidates for governor also lost in Iowa and Georgia, raising questions about the limits of his endorsement power in statewide executive races.
Wilson, the son of longtime U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, will face state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who won the Democratic nomination outright two weeks ago. Wilson's record as a tough-on-crime attorney general and his deep roots in South Carolina's conservative establishment proved more persuasive to GOP voters than the Trump endorsement alone.
The president later said he supported both candidates, hedging his bets in the race after his candidates for governor lost in Iowa and Georgia earlier this month.
How are New York's progressive Democrats challenging the establishment?
In New York, the fight between the progressive left and the Democratic establishment took center stage. U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman and U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat both face challenges from candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who took office in January.
Mamdani and his allies are pushing the Democratic Party further left, particularly on the war in Gaza. That strategy worries establishment Democrats in Washington, who fear progressive policies could alienate swing voters in this fall's midterm elections.
In Manhattan's 12th District, several Democrats are competing for the party nomination, including prominent Trump critic George Conway and Kennedy family scion Jack Schlossberg.
Can Republicans flip Maryland's governorship?
Maryland's primaries featured high-stakes battles across all eight congressional districts. With seven of those districts held by Democrats, the primaries often determine the general election winners in the left-leaning state.
Republican voters are looking for a candidate who can unseat Gov. Wes Moore, the rising Democratic star seeking a second term. The GOP hopes to return the state to Republican leadership, though the path remains steep in a state that consistently leans blue.
On the Democratic side, the race to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer drew significant spending and familiar names. Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, is running for Hoyer's seat on a platform centered on protecting democracy.
What is at stake in Utah's new congressional district?
Utah voters are selecting nominees under a new map that created a Democratic-friendly district in the Salt Lake City area, giving the party a rare pickup opportunity in a deeply red state.
State Sen. Nate Blouin, a progressive firebrand in the GOP-controlled Legislature, is vying for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. His campaign hit turbulence in April when posts he made on internet forums between 2009 and 2015 surfaced, denigrating women and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Blouin apologized for the posts, but the damage may have already been done. Some progressive voters have shifted their support to political newcomer Liban Mohamed, a former Meta and TikTok employee. A fractured progressive vote could help former U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams, viewed as a moderate, emerge as the Democratic nominee.
Why do these primaries matter for Iowa voters?
While Iowa wasn't voting on Tuesday, the results carry weight for Hawkeye State residents watching the national landscape. South Carolina's result is particularly relevant: it confirms that Trump's endorsement is not a guarantee in governor's races, a lesson already learned in Iowa earlier this month.
For conservative Iowans, the outcomes also preview the broader midterm environment. The progressive push in states like New York and the competitive races in Maryland offer a contrast that could motivate Republican turnout in November, when control of Congress and statehouses across the country will be decided.
Will Trump's endorsement power continue to fade in governor races?
Not necessarily. Trump's endorsement remains the most sought-after in Republican politics, and his overall track record in primaries is strong. But the governor race losses in Iowa, Georgia, and now South Carolina suggest that voters weigh other factors, including a candidate's record, name recognition, and state-level political networks, alongside the Trump seal of approval.
What does the progressive left's push mean for November?
It creates a genuine risk for Democrats. If progressive candidates win primaries but push policies that alienate moderate and swing voters, Republicans could capitalize in competitive districts. The tension between energizing the base and appealing to the center is the defining strategic challenge for both parties heading into the midterms.